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Localhost esports arena opens in Lakewood

The arena celebrated its grand opening Dec. 7.

Charlie Boyd was one of the first people to get to test out the Localhost esports arena.

Charlie Boyd has religiously watched competitive esports, or competitive video game industry for nearly seven years.

He spends a lot of his time playing the Rainbow Six Siege video game, as well as watching competitive gamers play the game. He drove out from near Limon just to be one of the first people to walk into the newly opened Localhost esports arena in Lakewood.

The arena, located at 1882 S. Wadsworth Blvd., celebrated its grand opening Dec. 7. It resembles a giant gymnasium — except specifically designed for competitive gamers.

It offers 120 custom-built PCs, video game consoles like PlayStation 4s, Nintendo Switches and Xbox Ones, couches, TV screens and tables designed to play games like Dungeons & Dragons. Localhost is operated by N3rd Street Gamers, a Philadelphia esports network, and it is also planning on adding a full bar to the arena later next year.

“It’s my sport. This is the perfect time and place for it,” said Boyd. “This area is already a hub for so many other things, and I just think it’s an attractive place.”

Dozens of gamers like Jesse Trujillo, who has played video games competitively for six years, crowded inside the arena for an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Trujillo is a competitive Rocket League player for Hooked Esports, a professional esports team. He said Colorado was in need of an esports arena, and Localhost fills a void that existed for competitive gamers.

“(Localhost) puts the competitive play out there for a lot of people who don’t necessarily enjoy sports. I’m not a huge sports person,” Trujillo said. “This makes it nice and easy for me to connect with people who enjoy what I do, and it gives me a chance to strive to be better.”

Localhost charges a fee of $10 for four hours, $15 for eight hours and it also offers $20 day passes. For the remaining of the month, Localhost will be open from noon to midnight every day of the week.

“We’re excited to be creating a location in Denver for Localhost Arena that will not only serve the local esports and gaming communities on a daily basis, but will also attract events and tournaments from out-of-state organizers,” Chief Experience Officer for N3rd Street Gamers Ryan Barr said.